"Well," he muttered, half to himself. "Fate works in strange ways."

He adjusted the bags in his hand and continued toward his apartment.

Raito heard the faint blast of a horn.

Someone was approaching in a car. He didn't look immediately, keeping his pace steady as he walked.

The vehicle drew closer, its engine low and steady. Curious, he glanced up and saw a sleek limousine pulling up and stopping right in front of him.

A man in a crisp butler uniform stepped out and stood at attention.

"Sir Raito," the butler said formally, "Boss Jiro has a mission for you."

Raito frowned. "How do you know my name? And what's going on?"

The butler bowed slightly. "I work for Sir Jiro. I'm here to pick you up."

Raito blinked in confusion. "Pick me up? But I haven't received any message. Nothing at all."

Just then, his phone buzzed.

He glanced down, a message from Jiro.

[Come now. A mission starts.]

Raito's eyes narrowed as another message followed.

[Put your things in the car boot. It's urgent.]

The butler stepped aside and opened the trunk. Without hesitation, Raito placed all the shopping bags, the new clothes he'd just bought, inside. The butler then opened the rear door.

Raito stepped in.

The interior stretched out like a miniature palace. Plush leather seats, polished wood, and soft ambient lighting filled the long cabin. Raito ran a hand along the seat and exhaled quietly.

Wow, this is unreal. I never imagined I'd reach this point. Or even ride in something like this.

He leaned back, watching the city blur past the tinted windows.

I told myself I'd get stronger, that I'd provide for my family. But this, he smiled faintly, this kind of power, it doesn't come for free. Nothing ever does.

Forty-five minutes passed in silence and streaks of neon light.

The limousine finally slowed as massive gates loomed ahead. They parted smoothly, revealing a vast mansion surrounded by a marble courtyard.

The driver eased the car inside and stopped before the grand steps.

Raito felt his pulse quicken.

He had arrived.

The mansion doors opened with a low groan.

From the grand hall, Jiro stepped out, spreading his arms wide in greeting.

"Raito! Thank you for coming on such short notice."

Raito's eyes narrowed. "Don't thank me. You called me out of nowhere, and your butler basically dragged me here. I'm not one of your subordinates you can just order around."

Jiro chuckled softly, raising a hand. "My apologies. I didn't mean to sound commanding. But this matter is serious. Far more than I expected."

Raito crossed his arms. "Serious, huh? Then stop stalling and tell me what's going on."

Jiro's smile faded. His tone grew heavier. "Something's happened. And I need your help handling it."

Raito frowned. "And how exactly do you hunters always find people's locations so easily? You just knew where I was?"

Jiro smirked slightly. "The government tracks every active phone through its internal IP. As long as your device is on, it can be located. High-ranking hunters like us have access to that database."

Raito clicked his tongue. "So that explains it. Creepy, but efficient."

Jiro nodded. "Now, onto the real issue."

He turned, gesturing for Raito to follow him into the mansion's hall. "There's a certain organization. I believe their powers have awakened, but they're not under any guild's control. From what I've gathered, some of them are B-rank Hunters, maybe even higher."

Raito's eyes narrowed. "What kind of organization?"

Jiro stopped walking, his expression darkening. "They call themselves The Black Gem. Officially, it's disguised as a casino. But underneath, it's something far uglier."

He continued, voice low and steady. "They host illegal bets, hunters thrown into cages with monsters. People gamble on who survives. Sometimes the fighters are criminals, sometimes they're just unlucky hunters who got captured. The crowd pays to watch them die."

Raito's gaze hardened. "That's disgusting."

Jiro nodded. "It is. And the worst part? Some hunters actually work for them. They kill, they cover up disappearances, and the authorities look the other way."

Raito stepped closer. "So what does this have to do with me? What exactly do you want me to do?"

Jiro met his gaze, his tone turning cold. "I want you to infiltrate it."

Raito's brows furrowed. "How am I supposed to do that?"

Jiro hesitated, his tone calm but edged. "Well, it's not going to be that hard. As long as you appear rich."

"Rich?" Raito repeated, disbelief tightening his voice.

"Yes," Jiro said, pacing slowly toward the glass table. "You'll be going in as a couple."

Raito froze. "Wait, what? A couple? What the hell do you mean by that?"

Jiro's lips curved slightly. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers twice.

The sharp sound echoed through the mansion's wide hall.

From the far corridor, the sound of heels clicked steadily against the marble floor.

A woman stepped into view.

Raito's eyes widened instantly. He knew that face.

Fujisaka Kira.

The B-rank hunter from the East Tokyo Guild. Cold, calculating, and elegant, a name feared by both hunters and criminals alike.

Seeing her in person was unreal.

Her black, silky hair flowed like ink under the chandelier's glow. Her sharp eyes carried quiet dominance. Even the way she stood radiated confidence and power.

Raito could feel it, the difference between them.

Jiro clasped his hands together. "You'll be infiltrating the Black Gem Casino with her. As husband and wife."

Raito blinked once, his expression tightening. "You're joking."

"Unfortunately," Jiro said, a faint smile crossing his face, "I'm not."

When she stepped closer, Raito felt the air tighten. She held out her hand without ceremony.

"I am Fujisaka Kira," she said coolly. "Call me Kira."

He took her hand. Her grip was firm, no softness, no hesitation. "I am Rikue Raito," he said.

For a moment, they stared at each other in silence. Then their hands parted slowly, the brief contact carrying an unspoken tension.

Kira turned toward Jiro, her expression sharp.

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